Milwaukee Bucks ownership is reportedly willing to go deep into the luxury tax depending on how far the team goes in the 2019 playoffs, according to Tim Bontemps of ESPN.
The Bucks' 2019-20 payroll is projected to be at $107,437,599. Nikola Mirotic, Brook Lopez, Malcolm Brogdon and Khris Middleton will all become free agents this summer.
While the Bucks mitigated one potential free-agency issue by committing to a contract extension with Eric Bledsoe during the season, several other core players — including All-Star Khris Middleton, starters Malcolm Brogdon and Brook Lopez and reserve Nikola Mirotic — will hit the open market this summer.
In theory, the Bucks can keep all of them — but doing so would almost certainly send Milwaukee soaring into the luxury tax. That is something ownership is willing to do, sources say, depending on how far the team goes this season.
The Bucks had the best record in the NBA during the regular season. They won their first playoff series since 2001 by sweeping the Detroit Pistons in the first round.
Milwaukee is currently tied with the Boston Celtics at 1-1 in the second round.
The Bucks signed point guard Eric Bledsoe to a four-year, $70 million contract extension back in March. Superstar swingman Giannis Antetokounmpo becomes a free agent in the summer of 2021.
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